Straight Talk For A Curvy World

This is a special solo episode, which is being released on the one year anniversary of my father’s death. The focus of this episode is the inspirational messages my father passed on to me. I am passing these to you as a gift, so that we may all bask in his guidance and love.   Special Messages from my Dad  “Daughter you amaze me. Although I have known you since before you were born, somehow you still continue to amaze me. I’ve watched you go through change after change and I’ve seen you navigate through some pretty rough times with your heart as a compass and your strong spirit to carry you through. Simply put, I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’ve grown from an adorable girl into a most remarkable woman. A woman I admire, love and respect more every day. When I held you as a baby I knew that you were special. When I see you as a woman, I realize just how special, more so than I ever could have imagined.” “My wish for you is to have pride in yourself for all the wonderful things you have accomplished, for all

A Special Quote for Bob (from Bob) O Birther! Father- Mother of the Cosmos Focus your light within us - make it useful. Create your reign of unity now- through our fiery hearts and willing hands Help us love beyond our ideals and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures. Animate the earth within us: we then feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all. Untangle the knots within so that we can mend our hearts' simple ties to each other. Don't let surface things delude us, But free us from what holds us back from our true purpose. Out of you, the astonishing fire, Returning light and sound to the cosmos.       Amen.   Sharing Secrets for the First Time Meetings are not by chance. My meeting with Bob Wakitsch was not by chance, it was in fact paid for in advance. We met at the Wizard Academy, a course run by the Wizard of Ads, Roy Williams in Austin, Texas. A small group of eleven of us was asked to share stories with each other. Most of us were sharing things which had never been shared before. The Wizard Acade

A Special Quote for Rick “Embody what you teach and teach only what you have embodied.” - The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman   Acknowledging the Truth Rick Clemons had the guts to tell his parents he was gay while he was in his teens. Whether due to a lack of understanding or social pressures, they did not accept his message and sent him to religious counseling. He was imprinted with the idea that he didn’t understand himself. By the time Rick was 38 he was married to a woman and had children. A trip to London opened him up to the insight that he is able to love a man. The connection felt wonderful at the time but when he arrived home he knew he had to come out to his wife. The burdening guilt and shame of being a cheat was multiplied by the fact that, deep inside, he had always known he was gay. But he had never accepted this understanding from a loving place.   Searching for Acceptance Coming out was bittersweet for Rick. He came out fighting. He tried very hard to get people to accept him, eve

A Special Quote from Dr. Theo Start with the simplest thing which is a respect, an appreciation, and love for yourself. Start with that.   Worry Holds Us Back When it comes to sex, people generally worry about everything from being comfortable in our bodies to how many partners we have had. We self-impose shame and disgust on ourselves and lack self-confidence from a young age. Wouldn’t it be nice to put aside our worry and be able to enjoy sex with our partners – much like one of Dr. Theo’s favorite clients does? She is 70 years old and has decided to give up dancing for the sake of her health, but refuses to give up sex. It’s a welcomed reminder that life doesn’t have to end when we get older. It really is about our mindset and what we want our lives to be.   Loving Ourselves No matter how much others give us love, we will never have enough if we don’t love ourselves first. We may have a hard time accepting love from others, because we may not feel we deserve it. We find ourselves craving love and becomin

A Special Passage for Dr. Theo From Brain Blocks: Overcoming the 7 Hidden Barriers to Success - “There is nothing more miserable than constantly living in fear. Challenges are perceived as threats. At the slightest deviation from the safe and familiar, alarms go off and hair stands on end. The space outside the comfort zone feels like a minefield. Fear keeps you confined in the cage of security.”   Understanding Fear We are all born with fear. It’s a complex but natural occurrence in the human existence. Fear alerts us toward risk. Fear tells us to stop what we are doing and to be scared. If we listen to the fear, it will go away; but then the opportunity for growth goes away also. We can stay confined or we can choose to overcome fear and push forward.   Pushing Forward to Realize our Dreams The size of our dreams is directly related to the size of our fear. The bigger our fear is, the smaller our dreams are. If we dream big our fear starts shrinking. As we start to age, our fear grows parallel with our resp

*Take note - This conversation contains a personal medical journey and its content is not meant to be taken as medical advice.   A Special Passage for Sharon From Jonathan Livingston Seagull: “Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly.” – Richard Bach   It All Started with Headaches Sharon Mayers started experiencing debilitating headaches while on a trip to her home country of Barbados. Upon her return to the US, she went to see a traditional Western medical doctor for tests. The doctors told her she might not live to her next birthday because they found an inoperable brain tumor. Following their advice, she underwent 14 months of chemotherapy and radiation to battle the cancer, which was both in her breasts and in her brain. Her tumors eventually shrunk down to 2%, but shortly after quitting treatment she started having seizures. Her life turned upside down and her young son moved

Close your eyes and picture this... A tropical beach in the Caribbean, on the island of Bonaire. It’s Valentine’s Day. The man of your dreams is standing next to you. He is looking into your eyes and promising his heart and body belong to you and only you until he breathes his last breath. Sounds like a great first chapter to a romance novel or a fairytale – doesn’t it? Well, the story didn’t exactly turn out like most fairy tales do. I know, because it’s my story. This was my life approximately seven years ago. The marriage that started on that day lasted for six years. It collapsed into chaos in less than one month –22 days to be exact. The 528 hours of conflict ended with an e-mail. An e-mail that ended my marriage with the man of my dreams. After some time passed, my coach gave me a writing assignment. The assignment was an essay about the experience. I had been putting it off until now. Now I am ready to own my story and share it with the world. As I look back at the communication, which passed between m

A Special Passage for Renee “Deep in the wintry parts of our minds we are hardly stock and know there is no such thing as work-free transformation. We know that we will have to burn to the ground in one way or another and then sit right in the ashes of who we once thought we were and go from there.” Originally from Women Who Run with the Wolves  by Clarissa Pinkola Estés and was copied by Angeles Arrien for The Second Half of Life.    The Servant Leader While the title denotes a religious affiliation, being a servant leader doesn’t mean you must give up a life of children and the joys of family. Leading people through the gift of service simply means you give back to your community through your gifts of time, talent and treasure. Women tend to be drawn to this environment naturally, because they inherently put others’ needs ahead of their own. In other words, you are probably already being a servant leader, and there is also a degree available in this discipline if you want to embrace your empathy.   Resentm

*Consider who may be listening with you. This episode contains fun stuff that only adults should hear.   A Special Passage for Monica From The Call - Sometimes it comes as a soft-bellied whisper. Sometimes it holds an edge of urgency, but it always says, “Wake up my love. You are walking asleep, there’s no safety in that.”   Now Where Did I Put That? Aging can be fun if we think about it as a never-ending game of hide-and-seek. The physical aspects of getting older are easier for us to deal with than the mental and emotional changes taking place within our bodies. We may understand that a tire with a nail in it isn’t fit to be on the road, but if the same tire simply doesn’t feel like going out for a Sunday drive because it may or may not feel flat, we have a hard time accepting that. And, it’s not just us. There is a lot of judgement going on between people who view another person being emotional as a weakness. Most of us can remember a time when we have commented negatively about a person who allows their

This is episode celebrates a very special anniversary. Two years ago today my mother took her last breath. She had been in hospice care for some time and was living in a hospice facility. I struggled internally with visiting her because I was having a hard timing dealing with what I was feeling - and what I was avoiding. I was already ingesting meds to help me confront the imminent circumstances, but I was also taking care of my children, my husband, preparing to sell a business and had spent many years as her caregiver. At the time, I believed I did not want to be with her during her passing, and I will be forever thankful that I was there that day, to hold her hand. From the moment I arrived, I knew those would be our last moments on earth together. I was compelled to make these moments about her, not me. Knowing my mother found solace in her religious beliefs, I firmly held her hand and her rosary and recited each bead to her. My mother then gifted me with a special message, one final gift of guidance, whi

A single act doesn’t define us nor does a moment in time. When we feel weak or powerless, we search internally for the one version of ourselves that we feel will best cope with the situation we are faced. If our past history includes anxiety, anger or apprehension, we are basically like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. Often, we systematically compare our pain to that of our peers in order to self-judge our normality, but in doing so, we run the risk of gathering all the pain within ourselves, especially if we identify with it. Ultimately, we project our anxiety and anger inwards or outwards. If we understand that both are okay – just different – we take the following necessary steps to emotional freedom.   Key Takeaways: [3:25] A special passage for Cathy [4:27] Being in tune to other people’s vibes [6:23] It can drain your energy [9:20] We don’t give ourselves permission to listen to ourselves [11:32] Comparing pain is common [16:08] Turning anger in on yourself [24:41] Growing

*This episode contains adult conversations. Please act accordingly if a child is listening along. A belief from long ago may be shaping your life today without you even knowing it. Past generations considered boys to have more value than girls, but how might the female members of your family have dealt with that understanding. Did they shelter each other to maintain a secret community or did it break sisterhoods apart? Ann speaks with Jackie Thomas of Breakthrough Canada about women who are conditioned to believe one thing about themselves and other women who are shifting their mindsets to accept themselves as they are. Jackie reminds us that women may suppress their sexual self and use sex in an attempt to regain their power, never achieving the ultimate goal of a harmonious natural state of being loved. Ultimately, we are responsible for the expansion of our souls and the writing of our stories. Key Takeaways: [1:14] Jackie’s ‘why’ [2:29] A special message for Jackie from Shel Silverstein [4:02] Women somet

As the year ends and we look back at the beginnings and endings we have experienced over the last 365 days, we take the time to appreciate that we are responsible for those transformations. We make breakthroughs by using our courage, we heal ourselves and others through our compassion and we obtain clarity by being true to our essence. This special highlight episode brings together some inspirational examples of guests who have experienced, overcome and transformed themselves through the simple act of living their truths. Ann reminds us she is here for us and she will continue to inspire us with more episodes of Straight Talk for a Curvy World in the upcoming year. We can do anything together!   Key Takeaways: [1:08] Get your application in now, for a very special 4-month Curvy World immersion program [3:08] Ann Sheybani displays clarity and coming home clearly [8:20] Karen Gray shows us compassion through loving our children [16:00] Lowry Olafson displays courage through his very personal journey [23:33] Sha

We all manifest the ability to speak with angels. The programming of being pushed into adulthood may cloud up our perceptive waters, but our spiritual gifts remain in the depths of our soul. Transitional periods in our lives often push our gifts back to the surface as we find ourselves looking for our true paths and confirming our places in the universe.  Maria Peth, the author of Angel Decoding, shares her experience of communicating with her guardian angel and what led her to find her gift. She converses with Ann’s angels during an angel reading included in this show. Ann graciously allows us to be a part of this journey. If you enjoyed this podcast and have a moment, please leave us a review on iTunes. Key Takeaways: [2:39] A special quote for Maria [3:53] Maria finds out the name of her guardian angel [8:30] Training in heart-to-heart communication with Grandma in Brazil [12:57] Being in someone’s heart and mind without giving it a voice [16:42] After death, the communication was stronger [19:32] Signs fr

It's noisy out there and if you want to stand out you need to take action in order to make an impact. Many people sit back and believe that things will just work out. If you want to be heard and recognized, choose the sphere of influence that you wish to impact and follow the steps in Dorie's book "Stand Out". Together, we can help each other climb the ladder of success. Dorie urges us to create an opportunity within a local network or to facilitate a "meet-up" as a way to build bonds between each other, so that when looking for a leg up we can have people in our corner.    Key Takeaways: [3:00] A special quote for Dorie [4:22] Cats are work/life balance enforcers [6:22] Normal grieving takes about a year – Dorie moved to NY to cope [13:00] Running away from grief is OK for a little while [15:22] How to support people in times of loss [17:02] Building a network from scratch with limited information [19:34] Taking care of a partner with cancer while making money [21:54] Lessons learned [26:41] Be sure you are

‘Lucky’ is how Mo Hannah describes herself. And when you consider the profound impacts she has withstood, you can agree that Mo Hannah is indeed lucky. Mo was destined to have found the Battered Mothers Custody Conference. Her personal life gave her the reason and her humanity gave her purpose. Ann and Mo talk about how being in the present can alleviate anxiety, and how taking your time to feel out a problem gives your inner voice a chance to speak. The physical pain caused by grief is not a structured ailment. There is no amount of time when it ceases to be, but it does change form over time. Understanding that when we pass, we just move on to a different realm, to another level of consciousness; where we immerse ourselves in the universe.   Key Takeaways: [00:45] Straight Talk for a Curvy World reviews and comments [04:42] A special quote from Napoleon Hill for Mo [05:50] The definition of success [06:40] Not every woman is ready to pick herself up [08:19] How can women give back and support each other in

We don’t always plan on being pushed in the right direction and more often than not it takes us by surprise, especially when we are in our 40’s. It usually happens when we take a deep breath and decide to martyr our lives for those we care about. In Ellen’s case, her push came right after she bought her coveted little red corvette. She suddenly found herself needing a new way to support her family. And, instead of wallowing in anxiety she channeled her father’s wisdom and chose to do something that would make her happy for the rest of her life.   Key Takeaways: [2:13] A special passage for Ellen [3:28] How Ellen and Ann met [4:07] Ellen’s big push was unplanned [8:25] There was a thread of confidence, even when I felt small [11:58] Little Red Corvette had to go away [13:55] Starting over and re-grouping in your 40’s [16:00] Ellen focused on fulfilling a need instead of building a business [19:45] It’s not about the money, it’s about what you would be happy doing for the rest of your life [22:15] Eliminating d

This truly is the all in one episode. There is music, straight talk, not-so-straight talk, guitar stories and inspiration. Lowry Olafson is a story teller. He shares his gifts with us as a keynote speaker, a singer-songwriter and a melody maker. Listen in to this episode to hear about the memories which are building blocks for the songs and how skipping down the street can transform you.   Key Takeaways: [2:10] A special passage for Lowry [3:27] Music was always in my life but it took me a while to pursue music full time [7:56] A singer needs to find his voice [10:54] “If not you then who?” [15:08] The inspiration came from my wife’s high school teacher [18:30] During my keynotes I get to tell stories which re-connect me to my emotions [20:07] “Bread & Honey” was written for my mother [27:01] Great melodies transport you [29:23] My mother was sick for a long time, but no one talked about her dying [34:39] “Borderland” [40:00] Each of my 9 ½ albums has a theme [41:50] Skipping down the street carrying the

Many of us are just finding ourselves again in our 40’s. Our relationships up until this point have been with people in which we share similar emotional attributes. We may be trying to recreate our family of origin because it is a familiar place. When we learn to stop living through other people we start to have better relationships with ourselves. We are then able to build upon our losses and take risks which catapult us into clarity. Through meditation, we can tune into our inner wisdom which will guide us in our journey.   If you have benefited from this podcast and think it could benefit someone else, please share this podcast with a friend.   Key Takeaways: [:47] What Susan Sandler shares about herself [2:25] A special passage for Susan [4:58] Susan’s father had a nervous breakdown when she was 8 [7:37] At 20 my therapist was very unorthodox [9:57] Marrying someone you don’t love [12:10] We attract people who have similar emotional attributes [13:26] Wise words from Susan’s therapist [16:32] I decided to

Sometimes conversations about toilets just turn into cry sessions about broken relationships between mothers and daughters. Well, at least on Straight Talk for a Curvy World they do. Ann and Beth discuss toxic family relationships, why becoming estranged from those relationships can be soothing to the soul and how children cope with the issue. Then the soon to be Rachael Ray of DIY gives some amazing household tips and tricks we all should have the confidence to try.   Key Takeaways: [2:06] A special quote for Beth [3:21] Beth teaches women how to screw … and hammer too [5:38] You have to have the basic skills to not feel trapped, panicked and dependent [6:27] Beth’s successful youtube channel [7:48] We fixed things ourselves because we had no money [9:44] My mother taught me everything as a child but the relationship became toxic [16:04] My children have a healthier idea of relationships based on my decision [18:57] Just since starting my business have insecurities from my previous life surfaced [21:07] The